Champions Cup: Harlequins late show ends Castres European dream

Planet Rugby

Harlequins' Alex Dombrandt scores their side's first try of the game during the Heineken Champions Cup, Pool B match at Twickenham Stoop, London. Picture date: Friday January 21, 2022.

Alex Dombrandt scored a hat-trick – including the winning try with the clock in the red – to maintain Harlequins’ unbeaten Champions Cup record and eliminate Castres following a 36-33 triumph.

It was a thrilling contest and the French outfit showed their intent by going 13-0 ahead early on via Gaetan Barlot and Antoine Zeghdar tries.

Quins had started slowly but got themselves back into the encounter as Dombrandt, Huw Jones and Viliami Taulani touched down.

The visitors went into the break 23-22 ahead, however, as Rory Kockott crossed the whitewash but the hosts’ number eight went over for the second time to take them in front.

Castres responded when Filipo Nakosi scored and they appeared to have secured the win through Adrea Cocagi’s effort, but Dombrandt’s controversial late try ended the French outfit’s hopes.

The England number eight was not sure whether his score was valid but, despite the on-field ruling deeming it not to be a try, referee Mike Adamson and TMO Brian MacNeice found enough evidence to overturn the initial decision.

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Quins were stunned into disbelief as they trailed 8-0 inside three minutes when their former fly-half Ben Botica landed a penalty followed by a soft try for hooker Barlot.

A line-out offered the platform to attack and Harlequins were slow to react as the ball was fed straight back to Barlot who scampered down the touchline to cross in the corner.

And the home defence was all at sea again as Castres plundered a second that was the outcome of smart attacking play and a gaping hole on the blindside that invited wing Zeghdar over.

Quins’ response was to touch down in the left corner with their first meaningful attack as clever build up from Cadan Murley created a half chance for Dombrandt that he finished with an athletic dive over the whitewash.

The deficit was reduced to four points when a kick from Tommy Allan caused confusion in the Castres ranks and the quickest to capitalise was Jones.

Just short of the half-hour mark, the fifth try arrived as Quins surged ahead through a line-out drive that ended with flanker Taulani crashing over the line.

But a rollercoaster match continued as Joe Marler was sin-binned for standing on Barlot’s hand before Castres once more created space down an undermanned blindside for scrum-half Kockott to score.

The lead did not last long as Louis Lynagh showed determination to keep a move going and with defenders sucked in, Dombrandt was presented with a simple walk in for his second.

Nakosi replied for Castres after collecting Botica’s kick and the Kiwi fly-half would have provided another had he not dropped the ball having brilliantly weaved his way to the whitewash.

But centre Cocagi forced his muscular frame over with a strong carry from a line-out to open up a four-point advantage.

Marcus Smith arrived to replace Allan and with him came renewed hope after a period of control from Castres, but it was Dombrandt who delivered the breakthrough following a lengthy siege on the French club’s line.

There was a whiff of controversy over the end that saw Quins win a series of penalties, one of which was harshly given for a perfectly legal turnover from the visitors.